Exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus includes a machine body, a transmission device, and a resistance adjusting device. The transmission device is operably disposed on the machine body and includes a rotatable resistance load. The resistance adjusting device includes an adjusting member operably disposed on the machine body, a retarding member connected to the adjusting member and disposed to be brought into contact with the resistance load for retarding rotation of the resistance load, and a force sensor that is disposed between the adjusting member and the retarding member and that is operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to rotation of the resistance load applied by the retarding member as a result of operating the adjusting member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 099107086, filed on Mar. 11, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, more particularly to an exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional exercise bicycle has adjustable resistance to operation of the exercise bike. The exercise bicycle includes a machine body 1, a transmission device 2 that is disposed on the machine body 1 and that includes a rotatable resistance flywheel 201, and a resistance adjusting member 3 disposed on the machine body 1. The resistance adjusting member 3 includes an adjusting rod 301 mounted threadedly on the machine body 1, and a retarding member 302 that is connected to one end of the adjusting rod 301 adjacent to the resistance flywheel 201 and that is disposed to be brought into contact with the resistance flywheel 201 for retarding rotation of the latter.

In this way, users may operate the adjusting rod 301 such that the retarding member 302 increases or decreases resistance to rotation of the resistance flywheel 201 for varying resistance to operation of the exercise bicycle. However, the users may only adjust the resistance to rotation of the resistance flywheel 201 applied by the retarding member 302 by mere feeling, and are unable to know exactly how much resistance to rotation of the resistance flywheel 201 is applied by the retarding member 302. Therefore, the users may not execute exercise training plans accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection which may detect resistance to operation of the exercise apparatus.

Accordingly, the exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection of the present invention includes a machine body, a transmission device, and a resistance adjusting device. The transmission device is operably disposed on the machine body and includes a rotatable resistance load. The resistance adjusting device includes an adjusting member operably disposed on the machine body, a retarding member connected to the adjusting member and disposed to be brought into contact with the resistance load for retarding rotation of the resistance load, and a force sensor that is disposed between the adjusting member and the retarding member and that is operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to rotation of the resistance load applied by the retarding member as a result of operating the adjusting member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the two preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation schematic view of a conventional exercise bicycle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of an exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged fragmentary schematic view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a force sensor and a display device;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a coupler of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements throughout the following description.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the exercise apparatus is an exercise bicycle. The exercise apparatus includes a machine body 10, a transmission device 20, a resistance adjusting device 30, and a display device 40.

The transmission device 20 is disposed on the machine body 10, and includes a pedal unit 21, a drive wheel 22 driven to rotate via the pedal unit 21, a rotatable resistance load 23, and a belt 24 trained between the drive wheel 22 and the resistance load 23. In this embodiment, the resistance load 23 is a resistance flywheel. Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the detailed configuration of the transmission device 20, which is known in the art, further details of the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The resistance adjusting device 30 includes an adjusting member 31 mounted threadedly on the machine body 10, a retarding member 32 that is connected to a bottom end of the adjusting member 31 adjacent to the resistance load 23 and that is disposed to be brought into contact with the resistance load 23 for retarding rotation of the resistance load 23, and a force sensor 33 disposed between the bottom end of the adjusting member 31 and the retarding member 32. The force sensor 33 is operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to rotation of the resistance load 23 applied by the retarding member 32 as a result of operating the adjusting member 31. In this embodiment, the force sensor 33 is a known piezoelectric force sensor. Alternatively, the force sensor 33 may be a capacitive force sensor or a resistive force sensor.

The display device 40 is disposed on the machine body 10, is coupled to the force sensor 33, and is operable to generate a visual indication of the sensor output. In this embodiment, the exercise apparatus further includes a wireless transmission module (not shown) attached to the force sensor 33 for transmitting the sensor output to the display device 40.

In this way, users may operate the adjusting member such that the retarding member 32 increases or decreases resistance to rotation of the resistance load 23 for varying resistance to operation of the exercise apparatus. Meanwhile, the force sensor 33 is operable to generate the sensor output dependent upon resistance to rotation of the resistance load 23 applied by the retarding member 32 as a result of operating the adjusting member 31, and the visual indication of the sensor output (e.g., a numerical indication of the resistance) may be displayed on the display device 40 for the users' reference. Therefore, the users may learn exactly how much resistance to rotation of the resistance load 23 is applied by the retarding member 32 so as to execute exercise training plans accurately.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention similar to the first preferred embodiment is illustrated. The second preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in the following:

The second preferred embodiment is a pulling-stretching exercise machine.

The transmission device 20 is movably disposed on the machine body 10, and includes an operating component, such as a pulling lever, movably connected to the machine body 10, and a pulley mechanism coupled to the operating component. The pulley mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys 25, and three pull cords 26, 27, 28 each circling different pulleys 25. If any one of the pull cords 27, 28 is driven by the operating component, the pull cord 26 is also driven by said one of the pull cords 27, 28. Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the detailed configuration of the transmission device 20, which is known in the art, further details of the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The resistance adjusting device 30 includes a resistance load 34 that is coupled to the transmission device 20 and that is movable relative to the machine body 10, a coupler 35 connected between the pulley mechanism and the resistance load 34, a cord member 36 interconnecting the coupler 35 and the resistance load 34, a press block 37 disposed in the coupler 35 and connected to the pull cord 26 of the transmission device 20, and a force sensor 38 disposed between the transmission device 20 and the resistance load 34 and operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to movement of the transmission device 20 applied by the resistance load 34.

In this embodiment, the resistance load 34 includes a stack of removable weight members 341. The coupler 35 is a hollow body with a top end. The pull cord 26 extends into the coupler 35 via the top end. The press block 37 is connected to the pull cord 26. The force sensor 38 is disposed in the coupler 35 between the press block 37 and the top end of the coupler 35.

In this way, when users adjust the number of the stacked weight members 341, the resistance to operation of the exercise apparatus is varied. Moreover, when the users operate the operating component to drive movement of one of the pull cords 26, 27 and 28 such that the resistance load 34 is pulled upwardly, the force sensor 38 is pressed by the press block 37 and the top end of the coupler 35. Therefore, the force sensor 38 is operable to generate the sensor output dependent upon resistance to movement of the transmission device 20 applied by the resistance load 34, and, like the first preferred embodiment, the visual indication of the sensor output (e.g., a numerical indication of the resistance) is displayed on the display device 40 for the users' reference.

In summary, the exercise apparatus of the present invention may not only detect resistance to operation of the exercise apparatus, but also display the visual indication representing the resistance for the users' reference.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection, said exercise apparatus comprising: a machine body; a transmission device operably disposed on said machine body and including a rotatable resistance load; and a resistance adjusting device including: an adjusting member operably disposed on said machine body, a retarding member connected to said adjusting member and disposed to be brought into contact with said resistance load for retarding rotation of said resistance load, and a force sensor disposed between said adjusting member and said retarding member, and operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to rotation of said resistance load applied by said retarding member as a result of operating said adjusting member.
 2. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting member is mounted threadedly on said machine body.
 3. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display device disposed on said machine body, coupled to said force sensor, and operable to generate a visual indication of the sensor output.
 4. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force sensor is selected from a piezoelectric force sensor, a capacitive force sensor and a resistive force sensor.
 5. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said force sensor is a piezoelectric force sensor.
 6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resistance load includes a flywheel, and said transmission device further includes a pedal unit, a drive wheel driven to rotate via said pedal unit, and a belt trained between said drive wheel and said flywheel.
 7. An exercise apparatus capable of resistance detection, said exercise apparatus comprising: a machine body; a transmission device movably disposed on said machine body; and a resistance adjusting device including: a resistance load coupled to said transmission device and movable relative to said machine body, and a force sensor disposed between said transmission device and said resistance load, and operable to generate a sensor output dependent upon resistance to movement of said transmission device applied by said resistance load.
 8. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a display device disposed on said machine body, coupled to said force sensor, and operable to generate a visual indication of the sensor output.
 9. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said force sensor is a piezoelectric force sensor.
 10. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resistance load includes a stack of weight members.
 11. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said transmission device includes an operating component movably connected to said machine body, and a pulley mechanism coupled to said operating component; and said resistance adjusting device further includes a coupler connected between said pulley mechanism and said resistance load.
 12. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coupler is a hollow body with a top end, said pulley mechanism includes a pull cord extending into said coupler via said top end, said resistance adjusting device further includes a press block disposed in said coupler and connected to said pull cord, and said force sensor is disposed in said coupler between said press block and said top end of said coupler. 